IT is of course way too early to be thinking about putting up the decorations and lights or wheeling out the tacky Christmas markets.

But it's never too early to get into the spirit for a couple of hours by watching a warm and sparkling production of The Nutcracker.

The Moscow Ballet La Classique is currently touring the UK and delivered another exquisite performance of the delightful festive tale.

Set to the very familiar music by Tchaikovsky, it's an uplifting story adapted from the Hoffman's Nutcracker and the Mouse King and first performed at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg in 1892.

It's probably the most popular ballet in the world these days.

The young and talented corps led by principals Elena Sheshina as Klara and Andrey Shalin as the magician Drosselmeyer, delighted an enthusiastic though somewhat small audience.

It was particularly disappointing to see so few children there given the enchanting nature of this magical tale.

I may not be the biggest fan of Christmas, but The Nutcracker is one festive tradition I can live with no problem.

While the performance and sets were of the highest standards, some of the patrons were not, fidgeting relentlessly in their seats, talking regularly throughout and rustling sweet packets.

If there's one thing worse than a philistine, it's a thoughtless one.